SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IN CHAPTER 6: WIND POWER SYSTEMS

6.1 A horizontal-axis wind turbine with rotor 20 meters in diameter is 30-percent

efficient in 10 m/s winds at 1 atmosphere of pressure and 15oC temperature.
a. How much power would it produce in those winds?
b. Estimate the air density on a 2500-meter mountaintop at 10o C?
b. Estimate the power the turbine would produce on that mountain with the same
windspeed assuming its efficiency is not affected by air density.
6.1 SOLN:
a. Power from the turbine would be
1 π
P = η ⋅ ρAv3 = 0.30 ⋅ 0.5⋅1.225⋅ 202 ⋅103 = 57, 727W = 57.73kW
2 4
b. From Table 6.1, the density 10oC is 1.247 kg/m3 giving a KT ratio of 1.247/1.225
= 1.018 (the table rounds that to 1.02). Unfortunately Table 6.2 doesn’t provide a
density correction for 2500 m so we need to use (6.13)
P = P0 exp (−1.185x10 −4 H) = 1.225exp(−1.185x10 −4 ⋅ 2500) = 0.9109
giving an altitude correction factor of
0.9109
KA = = 0.743
1.225
Using (6.14)
ρ = 1.225 KT KA = 1.225 ⋅1.018 ⋅ 0.743 = 0.927kg / m 3
c. Turbine power is proportional to air density, so
0.927
P = 57.73kW ⋅ = 43.7kW
1.225
6.2 An anemometer mounted 10 m above a surface with crops, hedges and shrubs, shows
a windspeed of 5 m/s. Assuming 15oC and 1 atm pressure, determine the following
for a wind turbine with hub height 60 m and rotor diameter of 60 m:

REEPS G. Masters Ch 6 Wind Pg. 1 2/9/10

 vtop
90 m

60 m

v
bottom
30 m
5 m/s
10 m

crops, hedges, shrubs

a. Estimate the windspeed and the specific power in the wind (W/m2) at the highest
point that a rotor blade reaches.
b. Repeat (a) at the lowest point of that the blade falls to.
c. Compare the ratio of wind power at the two elevations using results of (a) and (b)
and compare that with the ratio obtained using (6.17).
6.2 SOLN:
From Table 6.3, the friction coefficient α for ground with hedges, etc., is estimated to
be 0.20. From the 15oC, 1 atm conditions, the air density is ρ = 1.225 kg/m3.
(a) Windspeed at the lowest point of the rotor (30 m) will be:
0.20
⎛ 30
v30 = 5 ⋅ ⎝ ⎞⎠ = 6.229 m / s
10
and the specific power will be:
1 3
P30 = ρv = 0.5 x 1.225 x 6.2293 = 148 W / m 2
2
(b) At the highest point (90 m) the rotor will see:
0.20
⎛ 90
v90 = 5 ⋅ ⎝ ⎞⎠ = 7.759 m / s
10
and the specific power will be:
1 3
P90 = ρv = 0.5 x 1.225 x 7.7593 = 286 W / m2
2
(c ) The ratio of power top-to-bottom, is:
286 W / m2
Power Ratio = = 1.93
148 W / m 2

REEPS G. Masters Ch 6 Wind Pg. 2 2/9/10

 Using (6.17) gives:
3α
P ⎛⎜ H ⎞⎟
3x 0.20
⎛ 90
= = ⎝ ⎞⎠ = 1.93 which agrees
P0 ⎝ H0 ⎠ 30
6.3 Consider the following probability density function for wind speed:

k
f(V)

0 10 m/s
V (m/s)

a. What is an appropriate value of k for this to be a legitimate probability density

function?
b. What is the average power in these winds (W/m2) under standard (15oC, 1 atm)
conditions?
6.3 SOLN:
a. For it to be a pdf, the area under the curve must equal 1:
1
Area = 10k = 5k = 1 ∴ k = 0.2
2
so f(V) = 0.02V (0 ≤ V≤ 10 m/s)
b.
PAVG = 1/2 ρ A (V3)AVG
10
V5 10 5
(V 3) AVG = ∫0 f (V ) ⋅ V 3dV = ∫ 0.02V ⋅V 3dV = 0.02
∞ 10

0
= 0.02 ⋅ = 400
0
5 5
PAVG = 0.5 x 1.225 x 1 x 400 = 245 W/m2

6.4 Suppose the wind probability density function is just a constant over the 5 to 20 m/s
range of windspeeds, as shown below. The power curve for a small 1 kW windmill
is also shown.

1 kW
k
f(V) P (kW)

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
V (m/s) V (m/s)

a. What is the probability that the wind is blowing between 5 and 15 m/s?

REEPS G. Masters Ch 6 Wind Pg. 3 2/9/10

 b. What is the annual energy that the wind turbine would generate?

c. What is the average power in the wind?

6.4 SOLN:

a. What is the probability that the wind is blowing between 5 and 15 m/s?

It is just the fraction of the total area that is between 5 and 15 m/s: ANS: 2 / 3

b. What is the annual energy that the wind turbine would generate?

The only wind the turbine responds to is that between 5 and 15 m/s, during which
time the power delivered is 1 kW:

E = 2 / 3 x 8760 hr/yr x 1 kW = 5840 kWh/yr

c. What is the average power in the wind (W/m2)?

ρA(V 3 ) AVG
1
P=
2
WE NEED “k” FROM THE f(V) GRAPH: AREA UNDER CURVE = 1, SO k = 1/15
∞ 20
1 V4
(V )
3
AVG
3 3 1
= ∫ V f (V )dV = ∫ V ⋅ ⋅ dV = ⋅
15 15 4
from 5 to 20 = (20 4 − 54 ) = 2656 m / s
1
60
0 5

P = 0.5 x 1.225 x 2656 = 1626 W/m 2

6.5 Suppose an anemometer mounted at a height of 10-m on a level field with tall grass
shows an average windspeed of 6 m/s.
a. Assuming Rayleigh statistics and standard conditions (15oC, 1 atm), estimate the
average wind power (W/m2) at a height of 80 m.
b. Suppose a 1300 kW wind turbine with 60-m rotor diameter is located in those 80 m
winds. Estimate the annual energy delivered (kWh/yr) if you assume the turbine
has an overall efficiency of 30%.
c. What would the turbine’s capacity factor be?

6.5 SOLN:
a. The wind power density (W/m2) at a height of 80 m:

From Table 6.3, the friction coefficient α is 0.15, so using (6.15)

REEPS G. Masters Ch 6 Wind Pg. 4 2/9/10

 α
V ⎛⎜ H ⎞⎟
0.15
⎛ 80 ⎞
= =⎝ ⎠ = 1.366
V0 ⎝ H0 ⎠ 10
V80 = 1.366 x 6 m/s = 8.196 m/s
1
P80 = 1.91⋅ ρAV = 1.91 x 0.5 x 1.225 x 1 x (8.196) = 644W / m
3 3 2

2
b. The annual energy delivered with an overall efficiency of 30%:

E = η x PWIND x A x Δt = 0.30 x 644 W/m2 x (π /4 x 602 ) m2 x 8760 hr/yr

E = 4.79 x 109 W-hr/yr = 4.8 x 106 kWh/yr

c. What would the turbine’s capacity factor be?

Energy delivered 4.8x10 6 kWh/yr
CF = = = 0.42
Rated kWh x 8760 hrs/yr 1300 kW x 8760 hr/yr

6.6 In the derivation of the cumulative distribution function, F(V) for a Weibull
v

function we had to solve the integral F( v) = ∫ f(v)dv . Show that F(v) in (6.53) is the
0
dF(v )
correct result by taking the derivative f ( v) = and seeing whether you get
dv
back to the Weibull probability density function given in (6.41).

6.6 SOLN:
dF(v ) d ⎧ ⎡ ⎛ v ⎞ k ⎤⎫
Set up the derivative, f ( v) = = ⎨1 − exp ⎢ − ⎝ ⎠ ⎥ ⎬
dv dv ⎩ ⎣ c ⎦⎭
k
⎛v
then, letting u = ⎞ and remembering that ( e ) = eu
d u du
⎝ c⎠ dv dv
⎡ ⎛ v ⎤ d ⎡⎛ v ⎤
k k
⎡ ⎛v ⎤ ⎛v
k k −1
d ⎛v
f ( v) = exp ⎢ − ⎝ ⎞⎠ ⎥ ⋅ ⎢ ⎝ ⎞⎠ ⎥ = exp ⎢− ⎝ ⎞⎠ ⎥ ⋅ k ⎝ ⎞⎠ ⋅ ⎝ ⎞⎠
⎣ c ⎦ dv ⎣ c ⎦ ⎣ c ⎦ c dv c
rearranging,
k ⎛ v k −1 ⎡ ⎛ v k⎤
f ( v) = ⎝ ⎞⎠ exp ⎢ − ⎝ ⎞⎠ ⎥ Q.E.D.
c c ⎣ c ⎦

6.7 The table below shows a portion of a spreadsheet that estimates the energy delivered by a
NEG Micon 1000 kW/60 m wind turbine exposed to Rayleigh winds with an average
speed of 8 m/s.

REEPS G. Masters Ch 6 Wind Pg. 5 2/9/10

 v (m/s) kW kWh/yr
0 0 0
1 0 0
2 0 0
3 0 0
4 33 23,321
5 86 ?
6 … …
etc.

a. How many kWh/yr would be generated with 5 m/s winds?

b. Using Table 6.7, how many kWh/yr would be generated in 10 m/s winds for a
Vestas 600/42 machine?
6.7 SOLN:
a. NEG/Micon 1000/60 at 5 m/s
πV ⎡ π ⎛ V⎞ 2⎤ π5 ⎡ π ⎛ 5⎞ 2 ⎤
Probability of wind @ V = f(V) = exp ⎢ − ⎝ ⎠ ⎥ = 2 exp ⎢ − = 0.0903
2V 2 ⎣ 4 V ⎦ 2x8 ⎣ 4 ⎝ 8 ⎠ ⎥⎦
Hours @ 5 m/s = 8760 hr/yr x f(V) = 0.0903 x 8760 = 791 hrs/yr

Energy = 86 kW x 791 hr/yr = 68,025 kWh/yr

b. Vestas 600/42 at 10 m/s
From Table 6.7, at 10 m/s this machine delivers 356 kW
π 10 ⎡ π ⎛ 10 ⎞ 2 ⎤
Probability of wind @ V = f(V) = exp ⎢ − ⎝ ⎠ ⎥ = 0.07194
2x8 2 ⎣ 4 8 ⎦
Hours @ 10 m/s = 8760 hr/yr x 0.07194 = 630.2 hrs/yr
Energy = 356 kW x 630.2 hrs/yr = 224,354 kWh/yr

6.8 Consider the Nordex 1.3 MW, 60-m wind turbine with power specifications given in
Table 6.7 located in an area with 8 m/s average wind speeds.
a. Find the average power in the wind (W/m2) assuming Rayleigh statistics.
b. Create a spreadsheet similar to the one developed in Example 6.15 to determine the
energy delivered (kWh/yr) from this machine.
c. What would be the average efficiency of the wind turbine?
d. If the turbine’s rotor operates at 70% of the Betz limit, what is the efficiency of the
gearing and generator?

6.8 SOLN:

REEPS G. Masters Ch 6 Wind Pg. 6 2/9/10

 a. Average power in the wind per unit of area:
6 1
⋅ ρV 3 = 1.91 x 0.5 x 1.225 x (8.0) = 599 W/m2
3
Pavg =
π 2
b. Create a spreadsheet to determine the energy delivered (kWh/yr) from this machine
in Rayleigh winds with average 8.0 m/s speed.

Nordex
1300
60
8
V (m/s) Wind hrs Turb kW kWhr
0 0.0 0 0
1 212.4 0 0
2 409.4 0 0
3 577.6 0 0
4 706.7 25 17,667
5 791.0 78 61,698
6 829.3 150 124,400
7 824.9 234 193,022
8 784.2 381 298,789
9 716.1 557 398,882
10 630.2 752 473,917
11 535.7 926 496,097
12 440.7 1050 462,757
13 351.3 1159 407,164
14 271.6 1249 339,261
15 203.9 1301 265,249
16 148.7 1306 194,147
17 105.4 1292 136,114
18 72.6 1283 93,144
19 48.7 1282 62,388
20 31.7 1288 40,884
21 20.2 1292 26,036
22 12.5 1300 16,192
23 7.5 1313 9,842
24 4.4 1328 5,835
25 2.5 1344 3,371
26 0.0 0 4,126,858

c. Average efficiency:
The total energy delivered from the spreadsheet is 4.127 million kWh/yr.
From (a) the average power in the wind is 599 W/m2, so the efficiency would be:

REEPS G. Masters Ch 6 Wind Pg. 7 2/9/10

 Actual energy 4.127x10 9 Wh / yr
Efficiency = = = 0.278 = 27.8%
Energy in the wind 599W / m2 x ⎛ π ⋅60 2 ⎞ m2 x8760 hr / yr
⎝4 ⎠

d. The rotor operates at 70% of the 59.3% Betz limit, so:

Total efficiency = η ROTOR ⋅ ηGEN &GEAR = 0.593 x 0.70 η GEN& GEAR = 0.278
0.278
ηGEN &GEAR = = 0.67 = 67%
0.593x0.70

6.9 For the following turbines and average Rayleigh wind speeds, set up a spreadsheet to find
the total annual kWh delivered and compare that with an estimate obtained using the
simple correlation given in (6.65):
a. Bonus 300 kW/33.4 m, 7 m/s average wind speed
b. Neg/Micon 1000 kW/60 m, 8 m/s average wind speed
c. Vestas 600 kW/42 m, 8 m/s average wind speed
d. Whisper 0.9 kW/2.13 m, 5 m/s average wind speed

6.9 SOLN:

REEPS G. Masters Ch 6 Wind Pg. 8 2/9/10

Turbine: Bonus NEG Micon Vestas Whisper
kW 300 1000 600 0.9
Dia (m) 33.4 60 42 2.13
Vavg 7 8 8 5
V (m/s) Wind hrs Turb kW kWhr Wind hrs Turb kW kWhr Wind hrs Turb kW kWhr Wind hrs Turb kW kWhr
0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.00 0
1 276.4 0 0 212.4 0 0 212.4 0 0 533.4 0.00 0
2 526.8 0 0 409.4 0 0 409.4 0 0 970.8 0.00 0
3 729.3 4 2,917 577.6 0 0 577.6 0 0 1244.5 0.03 34
4 869.2 15 13,038 706.7 33 23,321 706.7 0 0 1331.8 0.08 108
5 940.5 32 30,097 791.0 86 68,026 791.0 22 17,402 1254.8 0.17 209
6 946.2 52 49,202 829.3 150 124,400 829.3 65 53,907 1065.8 0.25 269
7 896.3 87 77,974 824.9 248 204,571 824.9 120 98,986 826.5 0.35 290
8 805.4 129 103,896 784.2 385 301,926 784.2 188 147,434 589.6 0.45 265
9 690.0 172 118,672 716.1 535 383,127 716.1 268 191,922 388.9 0.62 240
10 565.4 212 119,854 630.2 670 422,240 630.2 356 224,354 237.9 0.78 186
11 444.1 251 111,481 535.7 780 417,879 535.7 440 235,727 135.3 0.90 122
12 335.1 281 94,171 440.7 864 380,783 440.7 510 224,768 71.6 1.02 73
13 243.2 297 72,227 351.3 924 324,607 351.3 556 195,326 35.4 1.05 37
14 169.9 305 51,818 271.6 964 261,848 271.6 582 158,087 16.3 1.08 18
15 114.4 300 34,308 203.9 989 201,638 203.9 594 121,105 7.0 1.04 7
16 74.2 281 20,855 148.7 1000 148,658 148.7 598 88,898 2.8 1.01 3
17 46.5 271 12,592 105.4 998 105,141 105.4 600 63,211 1.1 1.00 1
18 28.1 259 7,271 72.6 987 71,655 72.6 600 43,559 0.4 0.99 0
19 16.4 255 4,176 48.7 968 47,108 48.7 600 29,199 0.1 0.97 0
20 9.2 253 2,334 31.7 944 29,965 31.7 600 19,045 0.0 0.95 0
21 5.0 254 1,275 20.2 917 18,479 20.2 600 12,091 0.0 0.00 0
22 2.6 255 673 12.5 889 11,073 12.5 600 7,473 0.0 0.00 0
23 1.3 256 344 7.5 863 6,469 7.5 600 4,497 0.0 0.00 0
24 0.7 257 169 4.4 840 3,691 4.4 600 2,636 0.0 0.00 0
25 0.3 258 81 2.5 822 2,062 2.5 600 1,505 0.0 0.00 0
0.0 TOTAL 929,426 0.0 0 3,558,665 0.0 0 1,941,132 0.0 0.00 1,861
Using CF = 0.087Vavg-P/D2 = 893,722 3,663,627 1,870,421 1,866
Ratio = 1.040 Ratio = 0.971 Ratio = 1.038 Ratio = 0.998

6.10 Consider the design of a home-built wind turbine using a 350-W automobile dc
generator. The goal is to deliver 70 kWh in a 30-day month.
a. What capacity factor would be needed for the machine?
b. If the average wind speed is 5 m/s, and Rayleigh statistics apply, what should the
rotor diameter be if the correlation of (6.65) is used?
c. How fast would the wind have to blow to cause the turbine to put out its full 0.35
kW if the machine is 20% efficient at that point.
d. If the tip-speed-ratio is assumed to be 4, what gear ratio would be needed to
match the rotor speed to the generator if the generator needs to turn at 1000 rpm
to deliver its rated 350 watts?
6.10 SOLN:
a. What capacity factor would be needed for the machine?
Energy delivered 70 kWh/mo
CF = = = 0.278 = 27.8%
Rated kW x 30 day x 24 hrs/day 0.35 kW x 720 hr/yr

REEPS G. Masters Ch 6 Wind Pg. 9 2/9/10

 b. If the average wind speed is 5 m/s, and Rayleigh statistics apply, what should the
rotor diameter be? Using the correlation of (6.65):

PR 0.35 0.35
CF = 0.087 ⋅ V − 2
= 0.087x5 - 2 = 0.435 − 2 = 0.278
D D D
⎛ 0.35 ⎞ 0.5
D= ⎜ ⎟ = 2.2 = 1.49 m
⎝ 0.435 − 0.278⎠
c. How fast would the wind have to blow to cause the turbine to put out its full 0.35
kW if the machine is 20% efficient at that point.
1
P = η ⋅ ρAV 3
2
⎛π ⎞
350 = 0.20 x 0.5 x 1.225 x ⎜ ⋅1.492 ⎟ ⋅ V 3 = 0.214 ⋅ V 3
⎝4 ⎠
⎛ 350 ⎞ 1 / 3
V=⎜ ⎟ = 11.78 m/s
⎝ 0.214 ⎠
d. If the tip-speed-ratio is assumed to be 4, what gear ratio would be needed to match
the rotor speed to the generator if the generator needs to turn at 1000 rpm to
generate its 350 watts?

tip speed of blades π D m/rev x rev/min( rotor)

TSR = =
wind speed VW (m / s) x 60 s/min
TSR x VW x 60 4 x 11.78 x 60
rpm (rotor) = = = 603.9 rpm
πD π 1.49
generator rpm 1000
Gear ratio = = = 1.66
rotor rpm 603.9

6.11 A ,750-kW wind turbine with 45-m blade diameter operates in a wind regime that
is well characterized by Rayleigh statistics with average windspeed equal to 7 m/s.

750 kW 45 m
v = 7 m/s

o
sea level, 15 C

REEPS G. Masters Ch 6 Wind Pg. 10 2/9/10

 Assuming the capacity factor correlation (6.65), what is the average efficiency of this
machine?

6.11 SOLN:
⎛
Delivered energy = PR ⋅ 8760hr / yr ⋅ CF = 750x8760 0.087x7 − 2 ⎞ = 1.567x106 kWh / yr
750
⎝ 45 ⎠
⎛π 2 3
= ⋅ ⋅1.225⎝ 45 ⎞⎠ 7 ⋅ 8.76 = 5.59x10 kWh / yr
6 1 8760hr / yr 6 1
⋅ ρAV (W ) ⋅
3 6
Wind energy =
π 2 1000W / kW π 2 4
6
1.567x10
Efficiency = = 0.28 = 28%
5.59x10 6

6.12 For Rayleigh winds with an average windspeed of 8 m/s:

a. How many hours per year do the winds blow at less than 13 m/s?
b. For how many hours per year are windspeeds above 25 m/s?
c. Suppose a 31 meter, 340 kW turbine follows the idealized power curve shown in
Figure 6.32. How many kWh/yr will it deliver when winds blow between its
rated windspeed of 13 m/s and its furling windspeed of 25 m/s?
d. Using the capacity factor correlation given in (6.65), estimate the fraction of the
annual energy delivered with winds that are above the rated windspeed?
6.12 SOLN:
a. The probability and hours that the wind is below 13 m/s:
⎡ π ⎛ V⎞2⎤ ⎡ π ⎛ 13 ⎞ 2 ⎤
F(V ) = prob(v ≤ V) = 1− exp ⎢ − ⎝ ⎠ ⎥ = 1 − exp ⎢ − ⎝ ⎠ ⎥ = 0.8743
⎣ 4 v ⎦ ⎣ 4 8 ⎦
hours (v ≤ 13m / s) = 8760x0.8743 = 7659 hrs/yr
b. The probability and hours that the winds are above 25 m/s are:
⎡ π ⎛V ⎞2⎤ ⎡ π ⎛ 25 ⎞ 2 ⎤
prob(v ≥ 25) = exp ⎢ − ⎝ ⎠ ⎥ = exp − ⎝ ⎠ = 0.0004666
⎣ 4 v ⎦ ⎢⎣ 4 8 ⎥⎦
hours (v ≥ 25) = 8760x0.0004666 = 4.1 hr / yr
c. Energy delivered above its rated windspeed is:

Hours = 8760 hrs/yr - hrs above 25 m/s - hours below 13 m/s = 8760 -7659 - 4= 1097 hr/yr
Energy = 340 kW x 1097 hr/yr = 372,980 kWh/yr

REEPS G. Masters Ch 6 Wind Pg. 11 2/9/10

 d. Estimated energy using the CF correlation
PR 340
CF = 0.087V − 2 = 0.087x8 − = 0.342
D 312
Energy = 340 kW x 8760 hr/yr x 0.342 = 1,019,214 kWh/yr
372,980
fraction at winds above rated windspeed = = 0.366 = 36.6%
1,019,214

6.13 Using the simple capacity factor correlation, derive an expression for the average
(Rayleigh) windspeed that yields the highest efficiency for a turbine as a function of
its rated power and blade diameter. What is the optimum windspeed for
a. The NEG/Micon 1000 kW/60m turbine
b. The NEG/Micon 1000kW/54 m turbine?
6.13 SOLN:

PR ⋅8760 ⋅ ( 0.087V − PR / D2 ) 1000PR ⎡ 0.087

− 2R 3 ⎤
P
η= =
6 1 ⎛ π 2⎞ 3 0.75ρD ⎣ V
2 2
DV ⎦
⋅ ρ ⎝ D ⎠ V ⋅8.760
π 2 4
dη −2 x0.087 PR 3
=0= + 2⋅ 4
dV V3 D V
PR
V = 17.24 2
D
a.
1000
NEG / Micon 1000/60 : V = 17.24 ⋅ 2 = 4.8 m/s
60
b.
1000
NEG/Micon 1000/54 : V = 17.24 ⋅ 2 = 5.9 m/s
54
6.14 Consider a 64-m, 1.5 MW NEG Micon wind turbine (Table 6.7) located at a site
with Rayleigh winds averaging 7.5 m/s.
a. Using the simple capacity factor correlation (6.65) estimate the annual energy
delivered.
b. Suppose the total installed cost of the wind turbine is $1.5 million ($1/watt) and
its annual cost is based on the equivalent of a 20-year, 6% loan to cover the
capital costs. In addition, figure an annual operations and maintenance cost equal
to 1-percent of the capital cost. What would be the cost of electricity from this
turbine (¢/kWh?

REEPS G. Masters Ch 6 Wind Pg. 12 2/9/10

 c. If farmers are paid 0.1 ¢/kWh to put these towers on their land, what would their
annual royalty payment be per turbine?
d. If turbines are installed with a density corresponding to 4D x 7D separations
(where D is rotor diameter), what would the annual payment be per acre?
6.14 SOLN:
a. The 64 m, 1.5 MW NEG Micon in 7.5 m/s average winds. Using (6.65) the
capacity factor is.
PR 1500
CF = 0.087 ⋅ V − 2 = 0.087x7.5 - = 0.286
D 642
and the energy delivered is:
Energy = 1500 kW x 8760 hr/yr x 0.286 = 3.76 x 10 kWh / yr
6

b. What would be the cost of electricity from this turbine (¢/kWh)?

i(1+ i )n 0.06x (1.06)20
CRF(6%,20yr ) = = = 0.08718 / yr
(1 + i)n − 1 (1.06 )20 − 1
A = P ⋅ CRF = $1,500,000 x 0.08718/yr = $130, 776/yr
Adding the O&M gives A = $130,776 + $15,000 = $145,776/yr
$145,776/yr
Electricity cost = = 0.0387$ / kWh = 3.87¢ / kWh
3.76x106 kWh / yr
c. If farmers are paid 0.1 ¢/kWh for the land lease, annual royalty payment would be
Royalty = 0.001 $/kWh x 3.76 x 106 kWh/yr = $3760/yr
d. The land area per turbine is
Land acre
= ( 4x64 x 7x64) m / turbine x = 28 acre/turbine
2

Turbine 4047 m2
so the payment would be
Payment $3760/ yr / turbine
= = $134/ acre per year
Acre 28 acre/turbine

REEPS G. Masters Ch 6 Wind Pg. 13 2/9/10

6.15 This question has 4 different combinations of turbine, average wind speed, capital
costs, return on equity, loan terms, and O&M costs. Using the capacity factor
correlation, find their levelized costs of electricity.
(a) (b) (c ) (d)
Turbine power (kW) 1500 600 250 1000
Rotor diameter (m) 64 42 29.2 60
Avg wind speed (m/s) 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5
Capital cost ($/kW) 800 1000 1200 900
Equity % of capital 25 25 25 25
Annual return on equity (%) 15 15 15 15
Loan interest (%) 7 7 7 7
Loan term (yrs) 20 20 20 20
Annual O&M percent of capital 3 3 3 3

6.15 SOLN:
(a) (b) (c ) (d)
Turbine power (kW) 1500 600 250 1000
Rotor diameter (m) 64 42 29.2 60
Avg wind speed (m/s) 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5
Capital cost ($/kW) 800 1000 1200 900
Equity % of capital 25 25 25 25
Annual return on equity (%) 15 15 15 15
Loan interest (%) 7 7 7 7
Loan term (yrs) 20 20 20 20
Annual O&M percent of capital 3 3 3 3

CF 0.3733 0.3994 0.4463 0.4617

kWh/yr 4,905,018 2,099,057 977,382 4,044,687
Capital cost $ 1,200,000 $ 600,000 $ 300,000 $ 900,000
Loan principal $ 900,000 $ 450,000 $ 225,000 $ 675,000
CRF(i,n) 0.09439 0.09439 0.09439 0.09439
Annual loan payments $ 84,954 $ 42,477 $ 21,238 $ 63,715
Equity $ 300,000 $ 150,000 $ 75,000 $ 225,000
Annual return on equity $ 45,000 $ 22,500 $ 11,250 $ 33,750
O&M ($/yr) $ 36,000 $ 18,000 $ 9,000 $ 27,000
Annual cost $ 165,954 $ 82,977 $ 41,488 $ 124,465
Price of electricity (¢/kWh) 3.38 3.95 4.24 3.08

REEPS G. Masters Ch 6 Wind Pg. 14 2/9/10